Photo by Natalia Ahrens
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College softball team dropped a pair of games on Saturday to nationally ranked Ottawa University. The Braves who broke into the top 25 in this week's coaches' poll, took both games from the Bulldogs out at Bulldog Park this afternoon. The Bulldogs fell in game 1, 8-0 then lost the finale 6-3.
The Bulldogs couldn't get anything going against the Braves in the opener. The Braves' no. 1, Casson Rasmussen had it all working against the Bulldogs, shutting out the home team on just two hits. Those two hits were a double by Maile Deutsch, and a single off the bat of Aubree Beggs. Brittany Baroni got the start in the circle for the Bulldogs. She worked the first four innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits with a strikeout and a walk. Katy Wilson came on in relief of Baroni for and recorded a 1-2-3 scoreless inning.
In game two, the Bulldogs finally got their bats going, and pounded out 11 hits. Unfortunately, they were unable to get enough key hits with runners in scoring postion, and plated only three runs. Beggs, Deutsch, and Brandy Trengove each had multiple hits in the game. Trengove was 2 for 4 with a pair of singles, Deutsch went 2 for 3 with a double and 3 RBI, and Beggs was 3 for 4 with three singles, and a run scored.
Reagan Kleppe was in the circle for the Bulldogs in game two. She went the distance, allowing six runs, five of them earned, on 11 hits with two strikeouts and two walks. The defense behind her was a little suspect, committing a trio of errors that led directly to one of the Braves' runs.
"Not the results we wanted today," said Bulldog skipper Tony Segovia. "Give Ottawa all the credit. They are a top 25 team for a reason. We will continue to work and get better."
The losses put the Bulldogs 10-10 overall, and 3-3 in KCAC play. They will be back on the diamond on Tuesday when they go on the road for a doubleheader in Salina against the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes. First pitch is slated for 4:00 pm.
